Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)Maryland is a Governing State in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a consortium of 24 states working together to develop an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards. The new assessments will be anchored in college and career readiness; provide comparability across states; and be able to assess and measure higher-order skills such as critical thinking, communications, and problem solving.

The purpose of AutismConnect is to provide stakeholders in the state of Maryland with an online resource that will assist them in locating and securing resources for individuals with Autism. The website focuses specifically on research, educational resources, and advocacy organizations available to families in Maryland.

Take 15 for the Health of It is a statewide initiative designed to help Maryland families develop strategies for healthy living. The campaign will provide practical tools families can use to help their children develop good eating habits, enjoy physical activity, and talk about sensitive issues like substance abuse.

Take 15 for Physical ActivityThe expansion of the Take 15 for the Health of It! website inlcuded the creation of a new program - Take 15 for Physical Activity. This is a web-based program designed to help Maryland families develop strategies for better living by making physical activity a part of their daily routine. The website provides practical tools that families, children, daycare providers, and educators can use to help children talk about sensitive issues like body image, and making exercise and physical activity fun. A well-received component of the website is a monthly calendar of suggested activies for early childhood, elementary, and secondary levels.

Take 15 for the FamilyThis statewide initiative encourages Maryland families to dedicate at least 15 minutes each day doing everyday activities, like eating dinner together, and turning those moments into learning opportunities. The goals of the program are to build awareness among parents that involvement in their children's education is critical and to provide resources that make this involvement easy and fun.

Informationwww.k8accesscenter.orgThe Access Center is a national technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs to improve educational outcomes for elementary and middle school students with disabilities. It is dedicated to building the capacity of State educators, TA systems, districts, and schools, to help students with disabilities learn from the general education curriculum. This Web site contains free educational resources.